haskins



No. 6I9,l73. Patented Feb. 7, |899. H. C. HASKINS.

SLEEPING CAR.

(Application led Apr. 1, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

5 8 .1: .W5- 7 e s WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

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No. 6I9,I73. Patented Feb. 7,1899. v H. C. HASKINS.

SLEEPING CAB.

(Appliafi'n med aqu. 1, 1997.) (No Modal.) `3 Sheets-Sheet 2.1

WITNESSES 1N: nonms PETERS co. vnouumu., wAsHmefoN, n c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Feb.- 7,I |899.

H. C. HASKINS.

SLEEPING GAR.

(Applcatinn filed. Apr. 1, 1897.)

INVENTOR fa@ [y By his ffarney WITNESSES TNE Noam: Pinzas co,. 40m-mma,WASHINGTON. n c` UNTTRD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY c. HAsKINs, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SLEEPING-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,173, dated February7, 1899.

Application filed April 1,1897. Serial No. 630,251. (No model.)

'T0 @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HARRY C. HAsKINs, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York, county of New York, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleeping-Cars, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway sleepingcars, the object being toprovide superior accom modations for a maximum numberof passengers,giving to each passenger absolute privacy at night by providing him withan independent bed-room and rendering said room convertible into astate-room for day use. Such results have heretofore been partiallyachieved in the construction of compartment-cars, such cars beingdivided by fixed transverse partitions between walls formed in the caralong an aisle or passage-way at one side and the opposite side of thecar; but such cars accommodate a comparatively small number ofpassengers. In my organization I preserve the main features of acompartment-car, but provide for the accommodation of a larger number ofberths per unit of car length by subdividing each compartment into -twoindependent compartments by means of a jump or movable seat, so arrangedthat the upper and lower berths lie in the same vertical plane-that isto say, they are vertically superposed-one being accessible from oneside of a partition and the other from the other side of said partition.Each compartment is provided with two entrances from the aisle, andduring the daytime the movable seat or sofa stands near or against oneof the compartmentfwalls,obstructin g one entrance. At night the seat orsofa is shifted to a point between the compartment-entrances and thecompartment is divided by a movable partition extending vertically fromthe rear end of the lower berth to the front end of the upper berth, andthence from the rear end of the upper berth to the roof of the car.'Thus the compartment is subdivided into two independent rooms, reachedby separate doors, and as the berths are lone directly over the othermuch car-space is saved without sacricing the comfort of absoluteprivacy, so important to the traveling public. The upper berth may beformed in a variety of ways; but I prefer to have it open out from thechair or sofa back, thus securing great compactness and a maximum amountof free space for the passengers use.

My invention therefore comprisesa sleeping-car provided with a number ofcompartments convertible each into two independent sleeping-rooms bymeans of a seat, standing when in day use opposite one of 'the two ormore entrances and movable at night to a point between the entrances. Itcomprises also a compartment-car having in each compartment a pluralityof independent en-Y' trances and a convertible seat or sofa, by means ofwhich the compartment may be divided into two rooms, accessible bydifferent entrances. It comprises also other more specific features thenovelty of which will be indicated in the claims appended to thisspeciiication.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure l is asectional elevation of a car embodying one form of my improvements, theplane of section extending vertically through the aisle and lengthwiseof the car, the line of view being towardthe'compartment-doors,indicated,for example, by the line w Y of Fig. 4.Fig. 2 is a median section longitudinally of the car, only twocompartments being shown for convenience of illustration, one beingarranged for day and the other for night use. Fig. 3 is a median sectionof another form of my invention, taken on a plane indicated by line X' Yof Fig. 4, one room shown as arranged for day and the other for nightuse. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the type of construction shown inFig. 3 on the plane indicated by the line X2 Y2 of the latter figure.Fig. 5 is a View showing modified means of suspending the upper berth.Figs. and 7 are detail views of another mode of suspension. Fig. 8 is asec tional View of a detail.

Referring iirst to the type of construction shown in Figs. l and 2, land L represent fixed partitions extending from one side of a car andterminating in a fixed wall W on the inner side of an aisle o1'passage-way along the opposite side of the car. The car is provided withas many of these partitions as possible, with a view to the necessarydressing-space provided for each passenger, as hereinafter specied. Theydivide the car into a number IOO of independent compartments after themanner of a mode of construction now practiced. The partitions are ofsufiicient length to permit a sleeping-berth to be placed crosswise ofthe car. Each compartment is provided with a plurality of entrances. Twowill ordinarily be found sufticient; but where it may be found desirableto form a suite more than two may be provided. The entrances may beprovided with doors 34, one at each end of the compartment,communicating with the aisle, as may be readily understood uponinspection of Fig. 4. A movable or jump seat 5 during the daytime blocksone entrance and at night is shifted to a point between the entrances,as shown at 6 in Fig. 2. The seat or sofa may be arranged in anyconvenient manner to accomplish the result. As shown, the boxing orframe which constitutes the cushion-support for the sofa is connected byrigid links, with standards 8 secured to the floor of the car, though,as will be readily understood, it may roll on casters and be secured inplace in either of its positions by catches or cleats or otherwise, asmay be desired. The cushionsupporting boxing or frame may consist of atop 5a and standards 5b, supporting the top at the'required height. Thesofa is provided with a rigid back 9, to the top of which is hinged thecushioned frame 10, which during the day may incline to the seat 11,forming a rest for the back of the passenger. On the bottom of thecushioned frame is a folding partition 12, formed in two or more pieces,as desired, which nests behind the sofa during the day, as shown at 13,but may be opened out at night and be secured by a spring-catch 14 toeach of the side walls of the compartment, sockets 14a being lixed inthe compartment-walls at suitable points to be engaged by thespring-pressed bolts 14 in bolt-housings 14", attached to thepartition-section 12 and to the bottom of the upper berth and, ifdesired, at other points to support the partition and upper berth inproper position and to allow'their removal on withdrawing said bolts.

" The partition may, if desired, extend to the roof of the car or mayterminate a short distance below the same, but in all cases should reachto a height sufficient to secure thorough privacy in adjoiningcompartment-sections when the dividing-partition is in place. Mattressesand bedding may be stored under the sofa during the day and withdrawn atnight for use on the berths. Thus it will be seen that the sofa-seatforms the lower berth, as seen at 5, and the cushioned' back the upperberth, one half of the partition between the two adjoining rooms beingformed by the vertical back 9 of the 'sofa and the other half beingformed by the folding boards 12 12:, the upper berth being suspendedbetween the two parts of the partition. Each of the compartment-sectionsthus is converted into a separate room having an independent entranceand door.

In the type of construction shown in Figs.

3 and 4 the folding boards nesting behind the sofa are dispensed withand a partition-section 15 is provided, with grooved rollers 16 17,running on rails 18 19, secured to the roof. During the day thispartition-section is shifted back against the wall of the compartment,as

`seen at 20, where it may be secured bya catch.

When the berths are made up, the partitionsection is drawn out and thesofa shifted to its night position, as seen at 2l. The cushioned back isswung out at right angles to the rear frame 9 and latched to thepartition-section 15 byany desired catch-as, for example, the pin andslot shown. Thus it will be seen that during the daya liberal room isprovided, one doorway being obstructed, and access to the compartmentmay be` had by the other door. vided for each compartment, affordingeach occupant suiiicient standing-room for disrobing and dressing andacomfortable bed.

I desire to have it understood that my invention is not restricted tothe structural details or modifications herein described. For example,the subdividing-partition may be made in other ways,as by being formedof flexible material mounted on rollers-for example, as shown in Figs.5, 6, and 7. In Fig. 5 the partition is shown asformed of iexiblematerial-such as cloth, leather, or canvasand in Figs. 6 and 7 of woodor other slats overlapping one another transversely and mounted on acanvas back in a manner similar to the sliding top of a closed desk. Theconstruction shown in this figure permits the exible partition to berolled up during the day and at night to be unrolled from the axle 22,which may be spring or friction actuated, as preferred. It Will also beunderstood that each room may be provided with other accessories for theconvenience of the traveler, such as a washstand and other toiletconveniences.

The essential feature of my invention is the shifting seat and theplurality of entrances so arranged as to permit subdivision of eachcompartment into two independent compartments.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A compartment for a combined day-car and sleeper provided withaplurality of entrances, and a movable seat or sofa which in its dayposition obstructs an entrance, said seat being movable to a positionbetween entrances and there forming a part of a partition dividing thecompartment into two independent rooms.

2. A compartment for a railway-car provided with a plurality ofentrances, a movable seat or sofa obstructing an entrance when in oneposition, said seat being movable to a position between the entrances, apart of said seat forming a lower berth and a part thereof forming anupper berth, anda partition dividing the compartment into twoindependent At night, however, two rooms are pro- IOO IIO

rooms in which the berths are respectively located.

8. A compartment for a railway-car provided with a plurality ofentrances, a movable seat or sofa in one position obstructing anentrance but movable to a position between the entrances to form aberth, forming also a part of a partition dividing the compartment intotwo independent rooms having separate entrances, and means forcompleting the partition between the rooms.

4. A compartment for a railway-car provided vith a plurality ofentrances, a seat or sofa in the compartment adjacent one of thecompartment-Walls, said seat being movable to a position between theentrances, and a movable partition for dividing the compartment into twoindependent sleeping-rooms.

5. A compartment for a railway-car with a plurality of entrances, a seatconvertibleinto a berth said seat in one position being adjacent a sideof the compartment and being movable to a position near the middle ofthe compartment and forming a part of a partition.

6. A compartment for a combined day-car and sleeper having a plurality7of entrances, a seat which in position for day use is held next to awallof the compartment, and in a second a plurality of entrances, a sofaconvertible into a lower berth normally blocking one entrance butmovable to free the same at night, and an adjustable partition fordividing the compartment into two independent sleeping-rooms accessiblefrom the respective entrances.

8. A compartment fora railway-car having a plurality of entrances,a sofanorm ally blocking one entrance but movable to free the same at night,and an adjustable partition for dividing the compartment into twoindependent sleeping-rooms, one having an upper and the other a lowerberth, one over the other, respectively accessible from opposite sidesof the said partitions, the lower berth being formed by the sofa-seat.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day ofMarch, A. D. 1897.

HARRY C. IIASKINS.

Witnesses:

ALIoK G. MAcANDREw, RoB'r. I-I. READ.

